Bonnie Bannon was the daughter of Walter A. Bannon and Juanita (Strong) Bannon, born in Tulare County, California. After graduating from Fresno High School, she began her career by working at a local Warner Bros. theater, which eventually led her to participate in a Warner Bros. beauty contest, where she won a contract with the studio. This breakthrough opportunity paved the way for her to work with various studios and appear in numerous films directed by the renowned Busby Berkeley.
Bonnie's sisters, Eunice Bannon and Dorothy Bannon, also pursued careers in the entertainment industry, with Eunice working as a "fancy dress extra" and Dorothy primarily focusing on television work, particularly in the Zorro (1957) series. The Bannon family has a collection of Bonnie's studio photographs and newspaper and magazine articles showcasing her career.
Bonnie's personal life was marked by three marriages. Her first marriage was to Charles, the brother of actress Alice Faye, in Tijuana, Mexico, but the union ended in divorce two years later. She went on to marry twice more before finding lasting love with William Jones, a businessman, in 1953. The ceremony was attended by close friends, including the best man and maid of honor, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Arcaro, a renowned jockey. Bonnie had one child, a son named Fred Martin, from her second marriage.
